Polymer and green chemistry are two of the fastest emerging subdivisions of chemistry and the focus of very important biochemical and chemical research. The importance of these areas is emphasized in a two-step experiment for the undergraduate organic laboratory where the biodegradable and biosourced polymer, poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA), is synthesized. In this experiment, the first reflux reaction forms an L-lactide intermediate from L-lactic acid. The second reaction forms the final PLLA polymer via a reflux ring opening polymerization (ROP). The project goals of this research were to optimize and adjust this previously developed experimental laboratory procedure for synthesizing and analyzing PLLA in order to increase percent yields. Also, to be developed, was a more time and energy efficienct microwave ROP procedure to replace the currently existing reflux ROP procedure. An end group analysis procedure of the final poly-L-lactic acid polymer was also developed to further introduce students to the fundamental concepts of polymer chemistry.

Optimizing a poly(lactic acid) polymer experiment for an organic chemistry laboratory

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.